noun
- an enzyme that breaks down nucleic acids by removing nucleotides from the ends of DNA or RNA chains
Usage: biochemistry
Examples
- The exonuclease removed nucleotides from the 3′ end of the DNA strand.
- Researchers used an exonuclease to digest the RNA sample from both ends.
- This particular exonuclease shows high activity on single-stranded DNA.
- The cell’s repair mechanism involves several exonucleases that trim damaged DNA ends.
- Exonuclease III is commonly used in molecular biology laboratories.
- The enzyme’s exonuclease activity was measured by monitoring nucleotide release.